Podcast Summary: The Human Upgrade – "Feel 70 Percent Better… With Grapes? | Biohacking Tools" (Ep. 1374)

Host: Dave Asprey
Guest: Ilan Sobel, CEO of Bioharvest
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave Asprey dives deep with Ilan Sobel, CEO of Bioharvest, into revolutionary methods for harnessing plant compounds—focusing on grape-derived polyphenols—through advanced cellular technology. The conversation covers why traditional plant extraction is inefficient, how Bioharvest’s “botanical synthesis” is democratizing access to potent phytochemicals, and the real-world impact of their leading supplement, Vinia, on blood flow, cognitive function, and longevity. They also discuss new frontiers in plant-based bioactives, including innovations in olives and saffron.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Problem with Traditional Extraction of Plant Compounds

• Current state: Most supplements rely on extractive agriculture—grinding up huge volumes of plants, extracting compounds, and wasting 95% of the biomass ([00:53]).
  • "No one’s talked about that on the show before. We grind them up, throw away 95% of the plant, and then put the rest in little capsules to take. That’s how we do it right now. And this isn’t really sustainable…" – Dave Asprey, [00:53]
• Sustainability issues: Strip mining jungles and vast land usage is not only unsustainable but creates inconsistencies in purity and potency.

2. The Bioharvest Solution: Botanical Synthesis

Overview

• Bioreactor technology: Instead of growing entire plants, Bioharvest cultures specific grape cells (from the skin, seed, and tissue) to multiply and produce high-value compounds in bioreactors, eliminating plant waste ([03:56]–[07:31]).
  • "We get the cells to mirror the production of all the phytonutrients on the red grape… Then we magnified the levels of PI seed more than 100 times." – Ilan Sobel, [05:23], [06:52])
• Process:
  • Start with isolating grape cells in petri dishes, enhance them under controlled conditions (food, light, temperature).
  • Fortify and acclimate them to industrial-scale liquid bioreactors (up to 1200 liters—the world’s largest).
  • Multiply for 18–21 days, harvest, dry, and encapsulate the cell biomass—no extraction or solvents required ([09:59]).
• Advantage: Consistent, scalable, pure, non-GMO, and free from pesticides, heavy metals, and solvent residues.

3. Superior Bioavailability: The PI Seed Resveratrol Example

What is PI Seed Resveratrol?

• A glycoside form of resveratrol (with an added sugar) that is 25x more water-soluble and bioavailable than regular resveratrol, with lasting effects in the body ([05:23]; [12:03]).
  • "PI seed is the gold standard. It allows it to be 25 times more soluble… and it lasts in your system for at least 12 hours, peak after 1 hour and 5 hours." – Ilan Sobel, [05:23]
• Clinical finding: A single capsule contains the equivalent pisaed resveratrol as 1,000 red grapes; persists in the plasma for at least 12 hours ([10:57], [12:04]).

Solubility & Bioavailability

• Regular resveratrol (from knotweed or synthetics) is poorly absorbed, out of the body within 3–4 hours.
• Bioharvest’s process solves both problems, yielding higher plasma peaks and longer duration.

Clinical Efficacy

• Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: Daily Vinia for 90 days produced a 70% increase in arterial dilation (FMD measure)—significantly enhancing blood flow ([13:39]).
  • "We were able to significantly increase the dilation of arteries… at least a 70% increase." – Ilan Sobel, [13:39]
• Also demonstrated reduction in oxidative damage and oxidized LDL cholesterol ([15:25]).

4. Real-World Benefits: Longevity, Energy, Cognition

Systemic Benefits

• Improved arterial flexibility—key biomarker for vascular (and biological) age ([14:48]).
• Potential support for healthy blood pressure, energy, and oxygen delivery throughout the body ([14:11]–[16:55]).
• Penetrates blood-brain barrier: Enhanced mental alertness and reduced "brain fog," potentially supporting cognitive longevity ([17:09], [18:18]).
  • "It gets below the blood brain barrier so you have more blood flow, more oxygen... Goodbye brain fog. You’re sharp, you’re on your game." – Ilan Sobel, [18:18]

Performance and Evidence

• Used by professional athletes for vascularity and energy; Informed Sport Certified ([20:07]).
• Forms: capsule (1x/day), double-dose chew (for athletes), and upcoming hydration drink mix ([20:07], [26:39]).
• Host experience: Dave notes personal improvements in blood flow, morning alertness, and even sleep quality.

5. Mechanism of Action: Nitric Oxide and ET1

• Vinia stimulates nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells (+120% in vitro), directly at the site in the blood plasma.
• Dual action: Increases NO (vasodilator) and decreases ET-1 (vasoconstrictor, reduced by 50%). Unique approach among NO-boosters ([22:56]–[24:26]).
  • "Nobody talks about this… ET1… we reduce the bad stuff, which is the ET1… by 50%." – Ilan Sobel, [24:26]
• Supports vascular health and, as alluded, may support erectile function (“king of blood flow”) ([25:07]).

6. Democratizing Access: Pricing, Subscription, and Community

• Affordability: Three-month supply stayed at $99 since 2021 (~$1/day); bulk discounts for 6 and 12 months ([36:40]).
• Community support: “Vinia Heroes” program—20% lifetime discount for first responders and teachers ([39:17]).
• Broad adoption: 10,000+ reviews, 4.7/5 average; high subscription retention ([36:20]–[36:32]).

7. Beyond Grapes: Olives and Saffron

Olive-Derived Verboscoside

• Next bioactive: Verboscoside, a derivative of hydroxytyrosol from olives, now grown via the same cell culture method ([42:28]–[43:57]).
  • "In 100 mg of that material… the same amount of verboscoside as 2 liters of olive oil." – Ilan Sobel, [43:14])
• Focused on supporting fatty liver and cognitive aging. Launch expected late 2026.

Super Saffron

• New partnership announced to develop “super saffron” via cell culture:
  • Saffron's active compounds have clinical support for mood, cognition, and eye health ([51:30]–[52:26]).
  • Potential to bring price and scale down to democratize a potent, rare plant medicine.

8. Industry Impact: Technology, Partnerships, and Sustainability

• Efficiency: 25 tons/year of red grape powder—equivalent to Manhattan’s worth of grape cultivation ([47:50]).
• Scalability: Building out 100-ton facility ([53:02]).
• Patents: Not patenting the molecules, but the process—ensuring consistency, scalability, and viable business partnerships with pharma and nutraceuticals ([48:25]).
• Environmental win: Massive reduction in land, pesticide use, and plant waste ([50:53]).

9. The Bigger Vision

• Aim: Six to eight life-changing compounds in the next decade, backing every launch with clinical science, sustainability, and affordable access ([49:52], [53:02]).
• Philanthropic angle: Preserving medicinal plants, enabling treatments for rare diseases, and offering a real alternative to synthetic pharmaceuticals ([55:06]–[57:44]).
  • "There are 25,000 medicinal plants that we know about today… more than 15%… are going to be extinct in the near future. So that’s why there has to be this collaboration now." – Ilan Sobel, [56:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On blood flow and energy:
  "With the increase in FMD, you have more blood flow and, as you say all the time, right, oxygen is the source of life… and blood flow is the carrier of that source of life." – Ilan Sobel, [14:11]

• On product effect:
  "I feel a difference, especially when I wake up in the morning… I just tell it’s better sleep because better blood flow at night equals better sleep." – Dave Asprey, [18:37]

• On the power of plant compounds and AI:
  "We’ve cataloged literally everything that exists out there in the plant kingdom. We use AI… and then we partner… to take it into R&D." – Ilan Sobel, [59:49]

• On environmental impact:
  "If we want to make the best supplements for 4 billion people, we just don’t have enough land… If you grow just the preciousness… this is a foundational technology." – Dave Asprey, [51:11]

• On industry shift:
  "The blind spot is the plant kingdom. There are 25,000 medicinal plants that we know about today… So that’s why there has to be this collaboration now." – Ilan Sobel, [56:15]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:53]: Dave introduces the problem of plant compound extraction and the episode’s premise.
• [03:56]–[07:31]: Bioharvest’s alternative: cell culture and bioreactor production explained.
• [10:57]: Yield equivalence—1 capsule Vinia = 1,000 grapes.
• [13:39]: 70% arterial dilation increase; clinical trial results.
• [15:25]: Reducing oxidized LDL cholesterol.
• [17:09], [18:18]: Cognitive benefits and blood-brain barrier crossing.
• [20:07]–[21:46]: Athlete usage, product formats (chew, drink mix).
• [22:56]–[24:26]: Nitric oxide and ET1 double mechanism.
• [36:40]: Subscription pricing and affordability.
• [39:17]: “Vinia Heroes” community program.
• [42:28]: Verboscoside from olives—upcoming research.
• [51:30]: Partnership for super saffron.
• [47:50]: Scalability—grape powder output vs. land usage.
• [59:49]: AI-driven compound discovery.
• [53:48]: Vinia’s bioeffects—Dave’s personal experience and high-dose impact.
• [55:01]–[56:15]: Pharma partnerships and the importance of the plant kingdom.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Bioharvest’s botanical synthesis offers a scalable, affordable, and sustainable revolution for bioactive plant compounds, unlocking health, environmental, and economic benefits.
• Vinia is clinically shown to dramatically increase blood flow, with potential benefits for energy, cognition, and cardiovascular/longevity metrics.
• The company’s approach democratizes access to once-rare and expensive plant nutrients, with pricing, evidence, and social responsibility baked in.
• Future innovations include leading conjugates from olives and saffron, with even broader health applications.

Website and discount: vinia.com — Use code DAVE10 for a discount.
Community support: First responders and teachers eligible for lifetime 20% discount.

This episode delivers a masterclass in sustainable biohacking, showing how the future of plant-based wellness is being reshaped at the cellular level for both people and the planet.